Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy See Press Office has released the program for the Apostolic Journey of the the Holy Father Benedict XVI to Cameroon and Angola (March 17-23, 2009). The Pope will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 10 a.m. on Tuesday 17 March, arriving at 4 p.m. in Yaounde, Cameroon, where he will be greeted by the authorities.
On Wednesday 18 March he will make a courtesy visit to the president of Cameroon at the Palais de l'Unite in Yaounde. Later he will meet with the country's bishops in the church of Christ-Roi in Tsinga, then celebrate Vespers with local clergy and with representatives of ecclesial movements and of other Christian confessions in the basilica of Marie Reine des Apotres.
In the apostolic nunciature in Yaounde on Thursday 19 March, the Holy Father will meet with representatives of the Muslim community of Cameroon. At 10 a.m. he will celebrate Mass at Yaounde's Amadou Ahidjo stadium, to mark the publication of the "Instrumentum Laboris" of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. At 4.30 p.m. he will meet with sick people in the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger Centre. Later he will pronounce an address before members of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
On Friday 20 March, the Pope will travel from Yaounde to the Angolan capital Luanda where he is due to arrive at 12.45 p.m. Following the welcome ceremony at the airport, he will visit the president of the Republic of Angola in the presidential palace in Luanda where, at 5.45 p.m. he will also deliver an address to political leaders and the diplomatic corps. At 7 p.m., he is due to meet with bishops of Angola and Santo Tome in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Luanda.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday 21 March, Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass in Luanda's church of Sao Paulo. At 4.30 p.m. he will meet with young people in the stadium of Coquieros.
On Sunday 22 March, he will celebrate Mass with bishops of IMBISA (Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa) at Cimangola. That afternoon in the parish of Santo Antonio in Luanda he will meet with Catholic movements for the promotion of women.
At 10.30 a.m. on Monday 23 March he will leave Luanda for Rome, where his plane due to land at Ciampino airport at 6 p.m. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 27/1/2009)
